Randy Couture Vs Machida: UFC Breaking News
By Sean Farrell
MMA legend Randy “The Natural” Couture has been pushing for awhile now to get a bout with former light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, because of the karateka’s enigmatic offense and the problems it presented Couture. Randy Couture got his bout, and the two are now scheduled to meet on the main card of UFC 129.Couture discussed his strategy for taking on Machida in a recent interview when he stated. “The goal for me is to cut him off, to force him to fight me, to not let him run around and avoid two rounds of fighting, I think he’ll engage. I’m gonna force him–hopefully, with the cage–to play a little clinch game and pin him against that and make him work from there. That’s always been a strength of mine. So, the key is to cut him off and to get my hands on him, though he’s not easy to catch up with.”
Machida said that he has no intentions of letting Couture, who possesses an impressive and well-documented grappling game, grab hold of him or force the clinch game. “He is an Olympic-level wrestler, therefore, I won’t play this game with him,” said Machida. “We will fight standing or on the ground. There won’t be clinch against the cage.”
Couture and Machida will meet on April 30, 2011 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at UFC 129, there the two will see who will be able to implement or prevent their opponent from implementing their respective game plans.
The UFC’s light heavyweight division has long been considered to many as the promotion’s most competitive division. UFC President Dana White believes that is the case as well, and that some of his most notable fighters at 205 lbs. have crucial bouts coming up.
When the UFC president spoke at a Q&A session for enlisted military personnel on the Fort Hood base prior to Fight for the Troops 2, he noted that former champion Lyoto Machida is in a must-win situation in his next fight or he could be released “He’s had two losses in a row,” White told the troops. “Right after he won the title, (UFC on-air analyst Joe) Rogan said this is ‘The Machida Era,’ and I thought so too. Then Shogun beat him, and then he just lost to Rampage. Now he’s fighting Randy Couture in Toronto – and this is a must-win for him.”. Machida beat Rashad Evans to win the light heavyweight title at UFC 98, He defended the belt with a controversial decision win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 104, but lost it in their rematch at UFC 113 last May. This was Machida’s first career loss, which Machida followed up with a split decision loss to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 123 in November. A loss to Couture would be three straight for the Brazilian and often leads to a quick release from the UFC.
Machida has a problem many fighters wish they had, he is so elusive that he looks scared to engage. Machida possess an untouchable Shotokan karate stance much like Sub-Zero in recent Mortal Kombat games, unless you counter he will not be touched coming forward, but if you come towards him, he is so quick and has such an uncanny ability to see the strike before it happens and gets out of dodge and looks like he’s running. Couture shouldn’t need much of a breakdown as he is pretty one dimensional but that one dimension is DOMINATE, Couture is probably the best wrestler ever in mixed martial arts and his training with Brock Lesnar and other “monster” heavyweights has helped strengthen that. Couture is 48 years young (Can’t call him old) and is able to keep up with any fighter half his age, Couture can still hold a title and defend against top competition but at this point of his career he wants to “challenge himself”.
Machida is the perfect challenge as he holds every skill Randy Couture lives to neutralize, excellent ground game, uncanny striking, and as elusive as a greased pig. This fight should go to Machida, but if Randy does happen to get this victory and play spoiler, there should be no argument that Machida gets released.